The Mews and Ridge at Rivington July 2026 HOA Meeting Community Newsletter

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce The Mews and Ridge website!

This is another meaningful step toward building the best community we can be proud of. Please take some time and explore the website.

Staying Informed - Official Communication Channels

The Board of Directors encourages all residents to stay fully informed by attending our monthly HOA Meetings, reading Monthly News, communications from Felner Management and our newly launched website The Mews and Ridge. These are the official and complete sources of information for The Mews and Ridge at Rivington.

In accordance with our operating policy, the HOA does not communicate through social media. Posts on social platforms may be incomplete, inaccurate, or unverified. Relying on unofficial sources can lead to misunderstandings. To ensure you have the full and accurate picture, please continue to follow our official communications.

The Rivington Current

The Rivington Current is a new community‑wide publication created to highlight positive happenings throughout the entire Rivington community. Each issue features current events, successful activities, and general information about the greater Danbury area. The publication is extremely professional and helps foster a constructive, community‑focused environment.

Subscribe here: The Rivington Current

Bulk Pick-Up

Due to ongoing maintenance and remediation projects, we will be scheduling the bulk pick-up for September. Details will follow.

Plant Watering

We ask you to please water all new plants daily. We are limited to using irrigation to two days a week for 20 minutes.

Candidates’ Committee Announcement

To avoid the delays that impacted last year's annual meeting, the board is announcing the formation of the candidates committee early. Steve Cook will lead the committee, with Joe Franco and Frank Camelliti volunteering to serve as members. The committee plans to meet on the upcoming Monday to establish timelines for nominations and ballot procedures, with formal communication to the community to follow.

Pest Management Services

The board approved a new contract with JP McHale to provide proactive pest management services. This service will include the installation of rodent prevention systems in trash corrals, sprinkler and electrical rooms, as well as exterior foundation treatments for ants and other pests in the Mews and Ridge. The contract includes fixed pricing of $150 per service call for bee and wasp issues, intended to reduce costs compared to previous years. Furthermore, JP McHale is developing a voluntary, discounted interior pest control package for individual homeowners, with details to be communicated once finalized.

Reserve Study and 2027 Budget

The association has commissioned a new reserve study to satisfy updated lending requirements, with a draft report expected by the end of the month. This study will dictate the necessary contribution to the reserve fund for the 2027 budget, which will require an increase from the current 10% to at least 15% of fee income. Kurt Drexler highlighted that the current balcony repair project provides a long-term budgetary benefit by resetting the repair cycle, which will delay future expenses and help balance long-term financial obligations.

Common Area Decorations and Parking

A recent communication prohibited decorations in common areas of the Mews buildings due to resident feedback and Bylaws, and any existing decorations must be removed by next week to avoid removal by the cleaning crew. Additionally, residents were reminded that parking in the Mews is limited to assigned spaces for primary vehicles and unassigned spaces for second vehicles or visitors, while Ridge unit owners must park in their driveways and garages, leaving visitor parking exclusively for guests.

Governing Documents Comprehensive Restatement Project
Declaration • Bylaws • Rules & Regulations

The Board has begun a comprehensive review and modernization of the Association's Declaration, Bylaws, and Rules & Regulations to improve clarity, ensure legal compliance, eliminate inconsistencies, and better serve the long-term interests of the community.

Maintenance and Remediation Project Updates

Please allow contractors full access to all areas so they can complete their tasks efficiently and safely. Do not engage with the contractors directly or interfere with their work. The contractors have been directed to stop work if they are engaged by residents.

Direct questions to Mike Vargas mike@felnercorp.com or Kate Melgar kate@felnercorp.com for review, routing and response.

Project Information

Winding Ridge Way Slope Remediation

Work started on May 15th and is expected to be completed by the end of September, weather dependent

Mews 2nd and 3rd floor balcony repairs

The Board of Directors remains committed to the oversight of this project to ensure a successful outcome. We are fortunate this work is being completed as part of the remediation agreement with Toll Brothers and is at their expense.

Work started on May 11th and is now expected to be completed by the end of September.

Refer to the communications sent to the Mews residents for more information.

Retaining wall capstone and aluminum fence post repairs

Work is scheduled to begin on July 6th and is expected to be completed within 30 days

Pressure Washing

Pressure washing for Winding Ridge Way, Old Pasture Drive, and Mews buildings 100 to 500 is scheduled for late August or early September, pending the completion of site work. The board is also partnering with the pressure washing vendor to offer optional exterior window cleaning for residents at a cost of $10 per window, with communication regarding sign-ups to follow.

Mews Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs

The Contract has been approved and awarded to Rieve Fire Protection. Rieve has ordered the materials and will provide an installation schedule within the next week. A communication will be sent to the Mews residents.

Irrigation System Maintenance and Upgrade

Following a main manifold blowout that necessitated a temporary system shutdown, the irrigation system was repaired. The board approved an upgrade to an artificial intelligence-based system called Centralus, which will utilize weather, soil, and wind data to optimize watering zones and reduce consumption. This upgrade is projected to yield water cost savings between 15% and 32%, with a payback period estimated between three-quarters of a season to one and a quarter season. Northeast Irrigation will continue to manage the system, ensuring targeted watering for specific zones.

The Board of Directors and Felner Management appreciate your cooperation and patience as we work to complete our planned maintenance and repair projects. Our goal is to ensure the community remains a place we can all take pride in. 

Felner Management

 Felner Management is your point of contact for all issues!

Ensuring Professional Management and Streamlined Communication

Our community is professionally managed by a dedicated management company, Felner Corporation, with the expertise, systems, and staff necessary to handle all aspects of property management. This includes maintenance requests, service requests, addressing issues and concerns, and responding to questions in a timely and organized manner.

To ensure efficiency, accountability, and proper record-keeping, the management company, not the Board of Directors, must be your primary point of contact for all operational matters. 

This process is essential for several reasons

Accurate Tracking

Every request is logged and monitored through our management system, ensuring nothing is overlooked.

Proper Assignment

Tasks are routed to the appropriate personnel for timely resolution.

Completion Verification: Work orders and issues are tracked to completion for quality assurance.

Permanent Records

All actions are documented and stored in your unit owner profile for future reference.

Action Steps Required

All maintenance requests and work orders must be submitted through the online portal to ensure proper tracking and timely resolution.

For other inquiries, please refer to the contact list below and reach out to the appropriate representative based on your specific need.

By centralizing communication through the management company, we maintain consistency, transparency, and accountability. This approach allows Board members to focus on governance and strategic decisions, while our management team handles day-to-day operations with professionalism and efficiency.

Thank you for partnering with us to keep our community well-managed and responsive to your needs

Felner Management Contacts

Main Number: 203-331-4770

Emergencies: Call 911 First (when appropriate)

After Hours Non-911 Related Urgent Issues: Ext 0 

General Inquiries, Questions, Concerns, Portal Assistance, Service Requests

Kate Melgar kate@felnercorp.com        Ext 1033

Accounts Receivable, Monthly Fee, Balance Inquiry

Jenny Lacson   ar@felnercorp.com Ext 1036 

Property Manager

Mike Vargas mike@felnercorp.com       Ext 1034

Board of Directors

Kurt Drexler (President)

Finance Committee Lead

kurt.drexler@themewsandridge.com

Mario DiRubbo (Secretary)

Finance Committee Member

Rules and Regulations Committee Lead

Reserve Master Representative

The Rivington Club Representative

mario.dirubbo@themewsandridge.com

Steve Cook

Legacy and History Lead

Candidates Committee Lead

steve.cook@themewsandridge.com

Kevin Devine

The Mews Building Captains Lead

kevin.devine@themewsandridge.com

Rob DeSanctis

Facilities and Operations Lead

rob.desanctis@themewsandridge.com

Meeting Schedule – Please Attend (In Person)

The Mews and Ridge: Tuesday, August 18th at 7:00 PM